My alter ego is becoming a big shot - Episode 236
#236
In Taraq (1)
Tarak, the northern city of the Kingdom of Tulk, where many avatars happened to gather..
Further north, beyond the Iron Fortress, there is a northern mountain range where you can obtain resources such as rare monster bodies, minerals, and herbs..
To the southeast, there was a trade route leading to the Azerion Empire, which ruled the central part of the continent..
In the southwest, there was a high-quality iron ore production area that was the pride of the County of Aonia, and it was also home to many outstanding craftsmen..
‘So I chose this place as the starting point for Hubert Company..’
A city with a developed mercenary industry and weapons industry, and a blessed location boasting an excellent location for trade..
Before we knew it, Hubert Trading Company had developed into one of the largest trading companies in that area..
‘Of course, this is not an achievement achieved purely through fair competition..’
It was only natural that a company that was only a few years old could not have grown so quickly through normal means..
“Hmm.”
Hubert looked down from the rooftop of the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and observed the people coming and going busily..
It started with a huge amount of initial capital that could be raised with Hans' support..
The recruitment of talent and aggressive mergers and acquisitions through this quickly put his company on the right track, and the status of co-CEO Harley, which began to grow, served as an external shield..
‘It was also important to establish a friendly relationship with the count family, the lord of this land, and to show off his closeness with the church through Heinrich..’
It is also important to note that thanks to the vampires under Heinz II, they gained an advantage in the underworld battle..
In the process, there were times when those who had been manipulating things behind the scenes were thoroughly punished and set as an example..
‘In addition, the finest spices and rare items brought from the earth, as well as high-quality products supplied by controlling the quality through “emotion”.’
In addition, the unconventional investments and business activities made while grasping information on the Immortal King's attack in real time have been successful every time..
The power of the Merchant Alliance of the Tulk Kingdom, which kept him in check at every turn, suddenly lost its influence due to the accidental intervention of the Immortal Army..
Success continues day after day as if heaven is helping.
In addition, in the Tarak business world, Hubert was even called ‘a man loved by the god of wealth.’.
It was no wonder that he became the owner of a large merchant shipyard that was the largest in the northern part of the Tulk Kingdom and had a significant presence in other countries as well..
And it's the same at this moment.
Still, the heyday of Hubert Company is still in progress..
“ah! Lord of the store, you are here.!”
While he was blankly watching the people, a familiar female voice sounded in his ears..
Hubert slowly turned his head and looked at the girl approaching the railing of the rooftop where he was..
“Diana.”
The girl who was small and skinny when we first met due to not being able to eat well has disappeared, but now she exudes a healthy beauty that makes her look more mature than her original age..
After parachuting in and gaining everyone's recognition, Diana was now working as his personal secretary..
“I have an issue that needs to be paid for within today! This is a proposal for the expansion of the restaurant 'Dancing with Oak' to other branches proposed by the owner of the store.···.”
She came next to him and skillfully continued the briefing, holding a folder in one hand like a competent career woman..
It gave off a professional feel that would look great with glasses..
‘He said he studied hard before coming here... No, this is not at a level that can be called studying. Is it effort added to talent?.’
At first, she was given the job simply with the intention of using her transcendental sense of smell, but she turned out to be more prominent in this field than expected..
Perhaps a significant part of the Hubert Company's progress until recently included her struggles..
‘I was a little disappointed that Hubert's own growth seemed to have stopped, but if his power expands this smoothly, it's not that bad. Actually, as long as it helps in some way..’
Hubert, an avatar whose goal is to become a colossus commanding the upper world of the continent..
He was the next avatar created after Harley, but the development status of the individual rather than the force was not very satisfactory..
I didn't have any expectations in terms of combat from the beginning, but I thought I'd have at least a few merchant-related skills like 'bargaining' and 'speech' by this point.···.
‘I never thought there would be anything until the company became this big..’
Well, after thinking about it carefully, I think I can understand why..
A skill is an ability itself.
And the merchant's skills were generally based on personal insight and judgment, as well as interaction with others, rather than special abilities..
The result is different from acquiring related skills by training martial arts or magic, which are related to the special ability from the beginning..
‘「If you have the skill ‘Bargaining’ and can lower the price further, that would be no different from mental magic and not a merchant’s ability..’
Of course, he just didn't realize it, and maybe there really was a skill for those who chose the path of a merchant, but now all those assumptions were meaningless..
Rather than working on the front line, he is now a captain who decides the course of a large ship called Hubert Company..
‘Still, it’s not like there’s no result at all..’
Just a little while ago, Hubert finally gained a new skill, although it was not a merchant-only skill..
To be precise, the mastery of "Emotion" that had been used all along crossed a certain line, and it evolved into a new skill by combining it with "Visit" that was added through status enhancement..
“This time, I talked to my uncle... no, Mr. Bolt, who is in charge of the grocery store in 'Dancing with Orcs'. Allows you to control delivery prices more efficiently···.”
And the skill that evolved in that way, “Analysis,” is an upward compatibility with “Emotion,” making things that were previously impossible possible..
He looked at Diana, who was constantly chatting with excitement, and immediately used “Analysis” on her..
-Affiliated with Hubert Company. Even though he is still young, he shows a very good side to Sangjae. He knows his shortcomings and constantly learns and strives to grow further. He is excited at the thought of being able to help the person who saved him. I ate a bacon sandwich for lunch today..
-Key Traits: Uncanny sense of smell, blind loyalty, devoted love of family, gifted genius, extraordinary mental ability, mediocre physical ability, desperately unhappy.
-reliability : 98%
the biggest difference.
Unlike “emotion,” which could only be used on objects, the evolved “analysis” could also be used on people..
‘There seems to be a difference in the detail of the information depending on how well you know the target person, but this level is excellent..’
The reason he had been up on the rooftop just now looking down at the people passing by was to see it for himself..
The only information I could confirm at that time was 'I am anxious because I could not meet the delivery date of the product.' Or, 'I'm lying to hide the fact that I cheated.' That was all, and there were only two or three main characteristics visible..
‘In addition, the trustworthiness of people without acquaintances was not indicated at all, and even for employees of our company, it rarely exceeded 60%..’
Looking at it that way, I was able to realize once again that Diana's trust rating of 98% was truly ridiculously high..
That's probably what the 'blind loyalty' item included in her main trait means..
‘But everything else aside... It's hopeless misfortune.’
Hubert looked at Diana, who was still talking with a bright expression, and gently stroked her chin..
Of course, considering her past, it was an understandable expression..
I heard that even before Aaron was kidnapped, she was able to avoid dangerous situations all the time thanks to her sense of smell and her desperate efforts..
If she hadn't met her that day, she would have ended up losing her younger brother and being alone and living an unhappy life..
‘But it doesn't seem so unfortunate now, so why is it still a major trait? ···hmm? for a moment.’
Then, I suddenly remembered the story of how her family came here to Tarak..
An incident in which their family was in trouble due to the conspiracy of no one else but the greedy instructor who taught Diana..
What would have happened if Heinz II had not visited then??
Not only did the good uncle and his wife, who had welcomed the poor siblings, lose their store and place to live, but there was also a high possibility that the only daughter, Rafi, who had not received proper treatment, was at fault..
If things really went that far, wouldn't the Bolt family blame Diana after learning the full story of the incident? Also, could Diana forgive herself??
‘···If I had been a little late, that harmonious family would have been completely ruined..’
As expected, the variable was himself..
To be precise... it could be said to be the intervention of an awakened person from another dimension who shakes up even the established trend of the world called 'misfortune'..
“···Then, please pay!”
At that time, after finishing her explanation, she held out the folder and pen she was holding and shouted energetically..
Hubert looked at that bright smile for a moment, then slowly nodded and accepted it..
For him, dividing his thoughts was as natural as breathing, so even while he was thinking about other things, he didn't miss a word of what she said..
‘Anyway, “analysis” is quite a useful skill. I guess you could say that he is the best at dealing with his subordinates..’
This makes it easier to select loyal and capable subordinates..
Additionally, if we continue to develop this, we will eventually be able to learn more about Diana's sense of smell and misfortune..
Until then, it seemed like it would be best to keep her by his side so she wouldn't get caught up in unnecessary misfortune..
“Then, I will implement it like this, Lord of the Chamber of Commerce.!”
“Um, yeah.”
The first love he met after coming to this world, a girl who listened to his words and worked hard, was a very meaningful child to him..
***
The only workshop in the central district of Taraq, where land is expensive.
Unlike other workshops located in the industrial district, this was a private workshop prepared for only one person, 'Zaonic Steelstone', by order of the lord..
Kyaang—! Kyaang—!
Of course, not only the facilities but also the equipment scattered here and there were not of the highest quality, and the materials prepared were also of poor quality..
Moreover, aren't the Zaonics the dwarves who are said to be a race of artisans?.
“Oh my, it surprises me every time I see it. What kind of monster···.”
However, the owner of the workshop was busy letting go of his hand and looking somewhere and laughing..
Because of the ridiculous growth shown by this guy who had to be taught from the basics not long ago..
‘He's a genius. I knew it already..’
Should we say that if you teach one thing, you will teach ten things?.
Not long after picking up a hammer, he even received the blessing of a brazier, so it goes without saying that he is a talent..
Aren't even the branches of the World Tree, which is said to be difficult to find, being used like common firewood??
Moreover, his stamina was so good that he often fell first while trying to keep pace..
‘Hey, I was lively like that when I was young too..’
Zaonic shook his head excitedly as he recalled the glorified past..
Even compared to glorified standards, I thought that was a bit harsh..
‘Not to mention the will.’
Once the work begins, the way it moves, eliminating all distracting thoughts and focusing solely on the completion of the work, is so mechanical that it looks like a golem rather than a living being..
Of course, it was common among craftsmen to give up food and drink and focus only on work, but Howard's appearance was quite heterogeneous even by the familiar Zaonic standards..
‘It was already showing such monstrous growth.···.’
But as of a few days ago, it has finally gone beyond what I can understand..
The second hammering that follows one hammering is like the 20th hammering, and the third hammering progresses even further, as if it has been corrected a dozen times..
As if I were living alone in dozens of times more time..
Yes, it would have been better to call it evolution rather than growth..
A few days after this inexplicable phenomenon continued, at some point Zaonic stopped teaching him and reduced his interference to just watching from behind and occasionally giving advice..
Finally, Howard went from being an apprentice who needed to be taught to being a full-fledged craftsman whose path could be respected..
In terms of skill itself, Zaonic is still superior, but at this stage, the difference in methods between them is not 'wrong' but just 'different', so the guidance was of little significance..
“Phew—!”
And another round of work is completed.
Howard finally came out of his immersion and wiped his sweat with a towel with a deep sigh..
In front of him, the armor part of one arm that was still hot was shining with a beautiful metallic glow, reflecting the flickering light of the furnace with its smooth curves..
“Isn't it time to tell you what to make? The internal structure looks complex enough to be considered ordinary armor. Huh, where on earth did you learn such a strange design?.”
When his work seemed to be finished, Zaonic, who had been watching quietly from behind, grumbled quietly..
Even though he had already asked several times, he seemed frustrated because he had not received a clear answer..
“Ugh! Do you mean this??”
Howard smiled happily as he stroked the smooth part, not paying attention to the remaining heat..
I was skeptical until now, but I was able to confirm the possibility after just completing a pair of arms..
‘I didn't tell you for a while because I thought it might not work out..’
Of course, it is still a simple prototype, and even after completion, it will have to undergo quite frequent upgrades to be usable in practice.···.
As long as I could complete it, the hardships were insignificant..
That's right, this is it—.
“Iron... hmm.”
A culmination of the romance that he had vowed to create from the moment he pledged to become a craftsman..
“It is a full-body suit for all-purpose combat..”
Because that's what it was.
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